The Cricket World Cup has entered a crucial phase as Pakistan prepare to take on Sri Lanka on Tuesday.
Pakistan’s coach, Mickey Arthur, brings valuable insights into the strengths and weaknesses of his Asian counterparts, having previously led Sri Lanka as their coach from December 2019 to November 2021.
Arthur is well-prepared for the encounter, stating, “Yeah, I know their strengths and weaknesses, so we will have plans put in place for all of them. They are a dangerous side, so we will have to be at our best to beat them.”
Pakistan’s campaign in the World Cup began with an 81-run victory over the Netherlands in Hyderabad last Friday. Despite a challenging start with the top order, Pakistan managed to post a competitive total of 286, aided by impressive performances from Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan. They subsequently dismissed the Netherlands for 205 in 41 overs.
Arthur acknowledged the significance of the victory while acknowledging the need for improvement, saying, “I enjoyed the first win even though it wasn’t a great performance. But we did enough to win, and when the game was on the line, we had players standing up.”
The Pakistan squad is likely to maintain the same lineup for Tuesday’s match, which includes opener Fakhar Zaman, despite his recent form struggles. Arthur expressed confidence in Zaman, remarking, “I am not worried about his form; he is a good player and is just one innings away from a big score.”
The upcoming clash between Pakistan and Sri Lanka promises to be a thrilling contest as both teams seek to make their mark in the world cup. (TOI)
